Helicopter from Redhill Aerodrome in central London crash (From Redhill And Reigate Life)

Helicopter from Redhill Aerodrome in central London crash

12:54pm Wednesday 16th January 2013 in Local News

Two people were killed and nine were reported injured when a helicopter which had taken off from Redhill Aerodrome crashed in central London this morning.

The helicopter came down after apparently hitting a crane on top of a building called The Tower at St George's Wharf in Vauxhall.

With wreckage alight in the road below, firefighters rescued a man from a burning car.

One of the dead was reported to be the pilot, while the other was said to have been on the ground.

Four people, one said to be critically ill, were taken to hospital, while five others were treated at the scene.

The crash happened in misty flying conditions at about 8am.

It was said to have left part of the damaged crane hanging from the side of the building.

With some 90 firefighters at the scene, the area around the crash, near Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth, was closed off, causing major rush hour traffic disruption.

Vauxhall Underground station and railway station were closed, but were later reopened.

The fire was reported to have been brought under control within half an hour.

Reports stated that the helicopter, thought to be an AgustaWestland AW109, a lightweight helicopter with eight seats, came down in Wandsworth Road.

Witnesses reported it hitting vehicles and bursting into flames.

There were also fires burning in various nearby buildings.

The crash will be investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

It was reported that the pilot had requested to land at London Heliport, Battersea, because of bad weather.

The helicopter was believed to have been on a scheduled flight from Redhill Aerodrome to Elstree in Hertfordshire.

No-one at Redhill Aerodrome was available for comment when Life called.

Redhill Aerodrome is home to a number of fixed-wing and helicopter operators running various transport services.